Money and article carrying belt



S. SHERMAN MONEY AND ARTICLE CARRYING BELT Filed June 11, 1945 n w mm mm v ll/7 qa 4 T Patented Aug. 28, 1945 V UNITED STATE PATENT MONEY AND ARTICIE CABRYING BELT v Sol Sherman,NewiYorlibliYf I I Application June 11, 1943 Serial No. 490,477 v .3 Glaims. (01. 224-5) Generically this invention relates to belts, but'it' is more particularly directed to a belt having a pocket or pockets adapted to carry money, personal papers, and the like. a

One of theprincipal objects of this invention is the provision of a compartment belt for carrying money and other articles having compartment closure means, and improved means for securing said closure means in closed position with out the use of buttons, metallic fastening ele-' ments or operable connections of any nature.

Another principal object of this invention is the rovision of a compartment belt provided with a large pocket coextensive with the belt proper and an overlying series of extensible pockets, one wall of said large pocket being provided with an extension foldable over and constituting a closure for the upper ends of all of the pockets, said extension terminating in a series of flap ortongue' portions each adaptedto overlie a respective extensible pocket, and a flap or tongue retaining means operable to permit movement of the closure and flap or tongue means to and from their closed and secured positions without the foperation of any connecting :devices, suchasbuckles, snap fasteners, buttons, or other fastening elements. I A further important object of this invention is the provision of a belt of this character having a series of pockets or compartments, a closure means common to all of the pockets and'operaiblei as a unit with respect thereof, at the same time constituting individual closures'for therespective compartments independently operable without regard to adjacent compartments.

Another principal object'of this invention is the provision of a belt of this character formed. from three layers of material, one of said outer layers extending beyond the other layers and forming with the intermediate or partition layer a compartment, the other outer layerformingwith; said partition layer a series of extendible pockets, said extension being foldable to provide a closure for said compartment and pockets and including closure portions overlying said pockets and independently operable with respect thereto without disturbing an adjacent portion, and

means for securing said portions in closed position without the use of manually operable fastening elements, said means including a yieldable' and adjustable waist encircling and belt body supporting member attached to said body-and arranged in a manner adapted to compensate for the relative expansion of said pockets.

With these and other objects in View, which will.

become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides therconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more f-ullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which: 1

Fig. 1 isla front elevation of one form of my compartment belt invention closed.

Fig.2 is a similar view with the closure in open position. I l

Fig. 3' is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the 1ine-3-3 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on the-line 4'4 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line' 55 of Fig. -1. -I

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another form of my invention closed. I

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the closure in open position.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 88 of Fig.6. 1

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section on-theline 9-9 ofFig.'6. v

Fig. 10 is-an enlarged detail. on the line HIHJ ofFig.:11.

Fig. 11 is a detail-section on the line ll---ll of Fig.10. L Fig.12 is a detail of the belt strap and yieldable memben In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there .is shown-a compartment or money belt A .(Figs. 1 to 5) formed from a one piece'blank of fabric or. other suitable material I and iii-the presentinstance having superimposed thereon a suitable lining material ;2. Said materials are folded upon themselves along their surrounding edges as shown in Fig.4, andtheir engaging surfaces are cemented,sewed or otherwise suitablyunited as will be well understood.

Said material I and its lining 2are folded longitudinally as at -3-to form the front and back walls 4 and 5, respectively. The rear wall 5 is of a heightcorrespondingto -that of wall '4 and is formed withan extension 6 adapted for foldable a normally overlie the compartments or pockets 1,

tion as shown in Fig. l.

8 and 9, respectively, and constituting closure portions for said compartments independently operable with respect to each other and closure portion 6, as will more directly fully appear.

The body portion of said belt A comprising the folded over front and back wall portions 4 and 5, is formed with the stiffened or stabilizing tapered end portions 5 extending in opposite directions beyond the closure portion 6, and united by the triangular lines of stitching Hi, thetransverse portions H .of whicli' form the: end walls of the compartments 1 and 8, and correspond to the lines of stitching III, which form the other ends of said; compartments. v I a A pair of loop members l8, ersiinua'mr other suitable material to front wall 4 arerseculfedvtos l A of the adjacent fold of chambers 3| and 30 and 29 and -3flareintegrally connected, forming a said wall by stitching l9 and positioned project to or through the cut out portions l I when the closure members |2, |3, and I4 are in closed posi- I '20 Longitudinal-1y superimposed on said wall 4 and slidablyextending through the loops 1 8 is a; strap 1 a member .20 of similar'material 'to said wallrror other suitable material, and? in the presenviii stance is secured'there'to lay-the stitching rfli. Saidstra'pis adapted to encircle'th'e body or the wearer and has suitably secured .within orieenda; section of elastic onyieldaLblemaJteriai zur'ana to the free end. of fwhich-is suitably secured a conventional hook 2i and-to the other erid' of the strap an adjusting buckle 22 and a slidable e'ye link--23 .forengagemen't width said hooki Said strap and section are attached tozthe body portion by s'aid'stitching IBg-and'frbih which point to the hook 2| said belt constitutes a loose Hous= 35 ing or piping normally concealing said section 211 which automatically effects adjustment of'said encirolingportionwith respect-to the" body movements of the wearer. Said strap ism the proper len'gthr'intermediate its. lpoiiits of "connection to the Wall 4 by the stitching l5 toconstitute a flap or closure retaining m'e'a'nsfreely adjustable between said points and adapted to secure the'cld sure-and filap portions "l2, l3,-

l4 'ih olos'ed position and is adjustably operable withfrespect' to each fiap oi' closure portion to effect its ready opening and return to closed and secufed piji'si tion without regardtto and-independently or an adjacent compartment and its respective closure;- and whereby an automatic compensatingjahd tensioning adjustment with respect to fille'd "and unfilled compartments or so kets s effected g 1 "It is fiirther appareht that" the. prihcipal or main closurebn 'ay' be moved toopeii position to give access to allbf the pockets or any individual i closure portion 2; |3"orl4 may be opened and closed withoutreard' to its adjacent member or Docket. 3 j

In Figs. '6' to ll' ther'e is'sh'ow'n another form of the invention similar'in principal to the form above described except varying in structural arrang'e'mnt' incident to a three walled striicture and increased carrying capacity. 7

This form'comprises a fiintwall 24, a' partition wall '25,- 'aiida"'rearor back 'wau 26. Said rear wall 2a is formed with -eaten ion I 21 adapted for foldable'engagemeiit with the frontwall 24 and constitutes'a'common closure for the compartment 28 formed-by theback wan 2s and partition wall or pockets 25, "and 'the oompartnleht's 29,-30=and 3| formediby unitih'g' the front wall 24 and the partition Wall 25 10:; the'transversely ex.- tending lines of stitching azlg said extension 2 1 is formed with; the substantially u-shaped but out portions; 33,- :forming -'the individual closure portions 34, 35 and 36 adapted to normally overlie and to constitute closures for said compartments or pockets 29, 30 and 3|, respectively, and independently operable with respect to each other and the closure portion 21, as will directly more fully appear which formstheglextensible.end'waHs of compartments 29 and 3| and said material is similarly -ol ded inwardly of its compartment to form the opposite walls thereof and adjacent to such folds 1s similar folded to form the end walls of intermediate chamber 30, except that the portions 38 stripadapted to lie fiat against the partition 25 when said adjacent compartments are empty, said strip-being centrally connected to said partition by stitching 32 .andfundtionin'g as a hinge for said wall portions .38'of adjacent compartments, as clearly shownai'r'i Figs 8' and 11, and with the foldable walls partially. extended. The collapsible portions-.38 of the outer end-walls of compartments 29 and'3| are united to'partition' wall25 and the rear wall 26 by stitching 39 which stitching unites the three walls at their end edges. The back wall member 26 is formed with a proj ectioni extending beyond I the" longitudinal edges of the front wall 24 'and partition wall 25 and is folded'upon itself along its edge forming the hem 40'andis folded'over the lower edges of said walls24 and: 25' and with the hem 40 inoverl'ying engagement withthe outer surface of wall 24, said parts being united by a Figsl6and7 v N H 'Longitiidinally superimposed on'wall 2 4 and slidably extendingthrough' the loops 43 and over the closure memlier'sfid, 35, 'and other suitable material; and is secured at each end tothe belt pr'oper by the stitching 39 which is normally concealed'from view. Said strap is adapted to encircle the body of thejwearerand has suitably secured within one end afsection of elastic or; yieldable material 44'andto the free end'of which is siuitably secured a; conventional hook 2| and to the other end of saidstrap', an adjusting buckle 22am aslidable eyelink 23 for engagementwith s aid 'hookf Said strap and yieldablesectioii flll' are secured tothe body portion by the stitchingitllj'and the piping .and adlusting action of said section 44" is. identical: to

such parts above described in connection with strap'20 and sectioni2ll. It will be notedthat in the loops 43; presents a substantial loop formation within the bellows. portions .31 and 38 when lower overlapping collapsed are substantially con sealed by "the overl ing portions 31 as" shown in p v p as is astrap" member 44, of similar material to said wall or of the strap in thisjinstance, whileireely slidable',

position. Said strap is of a length intermediate its connected points 39 to retain the closures 34,

partments to compensate for their extension and tending toequalize the tension with respect thereto during different degrees of expansionand with respect to said loops adjustably operable to permit ready opening and closing of the respective independently operable closure portions or flaps by insertion thereunder as will bewell understood. I

The formation and operation of the main closure and the independently operable closure members and the strap and cooperating loop closure defining and strap retaining means are substantially identical in both forms of the invention. In both forms the closure securing strap means is adjustable from end to end of the front wall and adjustable independently with respect to each flap closure to permit easy insertion thereunder or removal therefrom of the closure portion of a respective compartment, and independently and automatically adjustable with respect to the body movements of the wearer.

From the above it is apparent that I have designed a money belt or article carrying belt having a plurality of compartments or pockets having a foldable closure common to all of the compartments and including closure portions independently operable with respect to certain of the compartments, and means for securing in closed position the common closure and constituting an adjustable retaining means for each of the independent closures, without the use of buckles, buttons, zippers, snap fasteners or other metallic or separable fastening means, yet simple in construction, pleasing in appearance, adjust ably comfortable-to the wearer, versatile in its adaptive use, readily accessible as to all of the with the spaces between said flap members and a waist encircling belt body supporting member connected intermediate its, length at spaced points to the opposite ends of the body portion,

the ortion ofsaid supporting member intermediate said points of connection therewith being adapted to pass over the flaps and loosely through the guide members to secure said flaps of saidcom'moh closure in closed-position, said portion being readily adjustable through said guides to compensate for the relative expansion of the compartments and to facilitate the manipulation of the respective flaps to open and closed posicompartments or a particular compartment,

manufacturable, at a minimum of cost, and efficient for the purpose intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. In a belt, front and back walls connected at their longitudinal lower edges and adjacent their end edges constituting the body portion, a plurality of compartments intermediate said walls and said end connections, said back wall having an integral extension foldable over said front wall constituting a common closure for said compartments and including a plurality oftion.

2. In a belt, a front, a back and a partition Wall connected at their lower longitudinal edges and at their end edges constituting the body portion, saidfront wall being formed to constitute a plurality of compartments within said body, said compartments being formed with ace cordian folds forming normally collapsed extensible end walls, the end walls of adjacent compartments being integrally connected, said integral connections and partition wall being connected 'in parallelism with said end connections, a guide member secured to the respective inte ral connections adapted to be normally substantially concealed by said collapsed end walls, said back wall having an integral extension foldable over said front wall constituting a common closure for said compartments, said common closure being formed intermediate its ends to provide a plurality of spaced flaps extending substantially to the lower edge of said front wall, said flaps being independently operable to open selectively respective compartments without disturbing adjacent compartments, a waist encircling belt body supporting member connected intermediate its length at spaced points to said body, the portion of said member intermediate said points and overlying said body being adapted to pass over the flaps and loosely through the guide members to secure said flaps of said common closure in closed position, said latter portion being adjustable through said guides to compensate for the relative expansion of the compartments and to facilitate manipulation of the respective flaps to open and closed position, and means for adjustably securing said encircling member about a persons waist.

3. In a belt, a front, a back and a partition wall connected at their lower longitudinal edges and at their .end edges and constituting the body portion, said front wall being arranged to form with said partition wall a plurality of compartments, said compartments bein formed with accordian folds forming normally collapsed extensible end walls, the end walls of adjacent compartments having integrally connected portions, said integral connections and partition wall being connected in parallelism with said end connections, a guide member secured to the respective integral connections adapted to be substan tially concealed by said collapsed end walls, said partition and back wall forming a compartment substantially coextensive with said body portion, said back wall having an integral extension constituting a common closure foldable to close the upper ends of all the compartments, said common closure being notched intermediate its ends to provide a plurality of flaps, the flaps being substantially coextensive in length and breadth with the surfaces of the underlying compartments formed by said front wall and independently operable to open selectively the respective compartments, a waist encircling belt body supporting member connected intermediate its length to the ends of said belt body, the portion of said member overlying said body being adapted to pass over the flaps and loosely through the guide members to secure said flaps of said common closure in closed position, said latter portion being adjustable through said guides to compensate for the relative expansion-of the compartments and to facilitate manipulation of the respective SOL SHERMAN. 

